Arthritis diet
Definition
Arthritis is the general medical term for the
inflammation of a joint or a disorder characterized
by such inflammation. There are a number of different
arthritides (the plural form of arthritis), and therefore
there is no ‘‘arthritis diet’’ as such that has been pro-
posed as a treatment for all these different joint dis-
orders. Dietary therapies for osteoarthritis (OA) and
rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the two most common
forms of arthritis, fall into three major categories:
mainstream management strategies that focus on
weight reduction and well-balanced diets as a way to
relieve stress on damaged joints and slow the progres-
sion of arthritis;dietary supplementsof various types
that have been evaluated in clinical trials and have
been found to benefit at least some patients; and alter-
native medical approaches that rely on dietary adjust-
ments (includingelimination diets) and/or traditional
herbal remedies to treat arthritis.Osteoarthritis
The reader should be aware of the differences
between OA and RA in order to understand both
mainstream and alternative approaches to these dis-
orders. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the more common of the
two in the general North American population, par-
ticularly among middle-aged and older adults. It is
estimated to affect about 21 million adults in the
United States, and to account for $86 billion in health
care costs each year. It is also the single most common
condition for which people seek help from comple-
mentary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments.
The rate of OA increases in older age groups; about
70% of people over 70 are found to have some evi-
dence of OA when they are X-rayed. Only half of these
elderly adults, however, are affected severely enough
to develop noticeable symptoms. OA is not usually a
disease that completely disables people; most patients
can manage its symptoms by watching their weight,
staying active, avoiding overuse of affected joints, and
taking over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers.
OA most commonly affects the weight-bearing joints
in the hips, knees, and spine, although some people
first notice its symptoms in their fingers or neck. It is
often unilateral, which means that it affects the joints
on only one side of the body. The symptoms of OA
vary considerably in severity from one patient to
another; some people are only mildly affected by the
disorder.OA results from progressive damage to the carti-
lage that cushions the joints of the long bones. As the
cartilage deteriorates, fluid accumulates in the joints,
bony overgrowths develop, and the muscles and ten-
dons may weaken, leading to stiffness on arising, pain,
swelling, and limitation of movement. OA is gradual
in onset, often taking years to develop before the
person notices pain or a limited range of motion in
the joint. OA is most likely to be diagnosed in people
over 45 or 50, although younger adults are occasion-
ally affected. OA affects more men than women under
age 45 while more women than men are affected in the
age group over 55. As of the early 2000s, OA is
thought to result from a combination of factors,
including heredity (possibly related to a mutation on
chromosome 12); traumatic damage to joints from
accidents, type of employment, or sports injuries;
andobesity. It is not, however, caused by the aging
process itself. Race does not appear to be a factor inDifferences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid
ArthritisRheumatoid
Osteoarthritis Arthritis
Risk factors
Age-related
Family history
Overuse of joints
Excessive weight
Physical effects
Affects joints
Autoimmune disease
Bony spurs
Enlarged or malformed joints
Treatment options
Weight management
Glucocorticoids
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
MethotreXate
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Pain management
Support groups
Exercise
Joint splitting
Physical therapy
Passive exercise
Joint replacement
Heat and cold
Massage therapy
Acupuncture
Psychological approaches
(relaxation, visualization)
Tai chi
Low stress yoga(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)Arthritis diet